I'm sure you all understand what I mean from the title but here is the scenario I have run into this morning:

I update tickets with "users" and write cost benefits analysis/business plans with "users" as the main word for employee.

Many people in the company are starting to complain that its rude to call someone a user. It implies they are "below you" or "not as computer literate". That is the only way I have ever referred to users of IT in any business I have ever worked for. My thoughts is, yes, it implies that you are not an IT engineer but I can't start saying low, medium and advanced user???

Tell them, no it's not politically correct, that you will continue to use the word "user" because it's the word that your industry uses to define a person, any person "using" a computer, that whoever is offended should consider that you are offended that they consider you a "lesser" in that they can come to you and complain about such asinine things like that, and that if they don't go back to their desks and actually get some real work done, you might be obliged to report them to human resources.

User is one of the nicest terms I use to refer to "users" of the company's network/ workstations/software/printers/paper/etc.

How does "user" imply that they are below you? or refer to their knowledge or level of skill?...I don't see that at all. The IT guy/gal is also a user, so is the CEO. Its just a generic term for anyone that "uses" the company's resources. Employee wouldn't cover contractors or outside users etc.

You could use employee, I guess, or you could use their name. Maybe start using their username....Oh, that might offend someone, better to use "login details".

Look up user in the dictionary....what does it read?

us·er [yoo-zer]
noun
1. a person or thing that uses.
2. one who uses drugs, especially as an abuser or addict.
3. Computers . a person who uses a computer.

So user IS the politically correct term.

EDIT: Ask the one complaining if they USE their computer. If they do, then they're a user, if they don't...take it away from them. Solved.

As Tony has just stated it is a correct term. If they think they are being classed as lower maybe that is on them?

User is a heap better than calling them Peons or Proles. We have had people get offended because their Machine names aren't exactly what their job title is (Our naming convention is basically job title).

Bah just ignore them unless they push it up the chain to HR or something.

Not a fan of using the term Computer Illiterate probably from the attached doc. Its worth a read its great.

I don't think the complaint is going to go any further than this one person (user). They were having a bad day and wanted to complain about something else that has no relevance to anything.

He is "technologically challenged" the other day, not joking, he called because he wireless keyboard was not working. When I walked in his keyboard was surly not working...when picking it up to ensure it was turned on it felt light, I checked and there we no batteries...he said that he borrowed them to power his radio and was going to but them back when the keyboard ran out of charge!? He insisted he was using it this morning with no batteries! No matter how much I insisted it WILL NOT WORK WITHOUT POWER, he started to tell me, doesn't the USB dongle send power "wirelessly"...I had to leave before I started laughing.

i just wrote a short essay on facebook, you know the world essay competition board lol, about this same concept with the term "illegal Immigration"

this applies:

"Thought: Words are not negative....(stop, think)

The manner in which the word is used, can be considered negative.....(stop, think)

The improper use of a word can be directly linked to a lack of proper education
............(stop, Think)"

.......there fore "user" is a proper term used to describe someone who is not properly educated. that person is the only one who can turn the term negativity. I am called a "Nerd" but i don;t perceive this as a negative because i have invested so much time and effort into obtaining this perception. If you don't like how people perceive you, then do something to change their opinions, don;t piss and moan about the descriptive term applied to you. it is my opinion that we are breeding a world of pussies, this just solidifies that.

is it politically correct? no, but we all know politics are never correct. Is it morally correct? well considering there is nothing moral to it, sure. Is it a correct description a person who uses a computer? yes, we are all Users. some just know more.

Honestly, this sort of thing is an example of where liberalism eventually leads us. For all their claims of exclusivity on open mindedness, they are the most singularly closed minded people I know. Thinking people everywhere need to start pushing back by revealing these people for what they really are: A bunch of whining busybodies who want to control everyone else's lives in a vain attempt to cope with the pressing knowledge of their own inadequacies.

As Tony has just stated it is a correct term. If they think they are being classed as lower maybe that is on them?

User is a heap better than calling them Peons or Proles. We have had people get offended because their Machine names aren't exactly what their job title is (Our naming convention is basically job title).

Bah just ignore them unless they push it up the chain to HR or something.

Not a fan of using the term Computer Illiterate probably from the attached doc. Its worth a read its great.

That letter tells so many truths, if only there was a more polite way to say it to some of those people (or to the business itself).

IT types are famous for not always being polite with users, to the point where it's become a stereotype, and users are afraid to talk to them unless they really have to. This can be damaging to the IT department, as minor issues don't get reported and these can escalate.

It made me smile that there was a chapter in CompTIA N+ about the importance of treating your users with respect. But even they used the term 'users.'

It's just the industry standard term. Next they'll be getting offended by signs saying 'no access to the general public.'

That guy sounds like he just wants to cry about something. Users is not an offence term, when I log into my computer it asks for my username and password. I am a user of Spiceworks. And to be honest, user is a much better name than I'd give them.

One of the companies we cover calls us "Admin Support" because apparently we send out letters now?

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